Question
A 2023 study found that several individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 developed antibodies against this molecule instead of the SARS spike protein. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this hydrophilic polymer which has been used for decades to shield drugs from the immune system, but was first put into vaccines in 2020.
ANSWER: PEG (“peg”) [or polyethylene glycol]
[10e] PEG is required because the mRNA vaccines are formulated inside nanoparticles made from this class of hydrophobic macromolecules. These molecules include fats and oils.
ANSWER: lipids [or lipid nanoparticles; prompt on LNPs]
[10m] The anti-PEG antibodies can be distracted by free PEG with a high value for this quantity. Polymer length is usually reported in units for this quantity like kilodaltons.
ANSWER: molecular weight [or MW; or molar mass; or molecular mass; or MM; prompt on weight or mass or size]
<Adam Silverman, Science - Chemistry> ~19274~ <Editor: Adam Silverman>
Data
Summary
| Tournament | Edition | Exact Match? | Heard | PPB | Easy % | Medium % | Hard % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 PACE NSC | 06/08/2024 | Y | 35 | 12.57 | 97% | 23% | 6% |